Sent Away Again

Extraordinary Treatment of French Mail Plane in Cook Is.

From Our Own Correspondent

Papeete, May 9.

THE fortnightly mail and passenger service planned by Air Tahiti bet ween Papeete and Aitutaki was inaugurated on May 4, when the Gruman- Mallard seaplane left at 6.20 a.m. for the Cook Islands, with a heavy load of mails. It can carry 10 passengers.

On April 26, the plane, when leaving the harbour for Raiatea, had struck a reef. Damage was not serious, however, and was soon repaired.

But when the plane descended in Aitu taki. it was approached only by persons wearing gloves and masks. It then was realised that Tahiti, from the New Zea land viewpoint is infected with Polio, and is Tabu.

The flight time, Papeete-Aitutaki, is 3hours.

The Tahiti plane was given petrol, but the attendants would not accept the paper money tendered in payment by Captain Pommier. It was not allowed to land its mails, and the New Zealanders would not hand over the 24 sacks of mail for Tahiti which had accumulated at Aitutaki.

The seaplane returned to Papeete with its load —surely the most extraordinary incident in the dismal record of the many attempts to establish an air-mail service for Tahiti.

Papeete. May 27.

It is now announced that the long dis pute between the airways companies is over, and the Air Tahiti fortnightly ser vice will run regularly, commencing June 1.

Lincoln heavy bombers of No. 82 Wing RAAF will shortly hold exercises from Momote airfield, Los Negros, Admiralty Group, New Guinea.